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Page 6 of 11 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />By way of background, Redwood City’s Reach Codes, first adopted in 2020 and updated in 2022, supported <br />the City’s Climate Action Plan by requiring all-electric new construction (with limited exceptions) to cut <br />greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since 2021, only 45 projects have been built under these rules, most of <br />them accessory dwelling units (ADUs). <br /> Type of Project Number <br /> ADUs 31 <br /> SFR (Single-Family Residential)11 <br /> Multi-Family/Commercial 3 <br />Total 45 <br />The 2025 Energy Code builds on State sustainability goals. This new code achieves much of the intention <br />of the previous Redwood City Reach Codes, helping keep Redwood City on track toward its climate targets. <br />The 2025 Energy Code, going into effect January 1, 2026, expands the use of heat pumps in newly <br />constructed residential buildings, requires electric readiness for new construction, strengthens ventilation <br />standards, and more. The 2025 Energy Code builds on California’s technology innovations, encouraging <br />energy-efficient approaches to encourage building decarbonization, emphasizing in particular heat pumps <br />for space heating and water heating. This set of Energy Codes also extends the benefits of photovoltaic <br />and battery storage systems and other demand flexible technology to work in combinations with heat <br />pumps to enable California buildings to be responsive to climate change. This Energy code also <br />strengthens ventilation standards to improve indoor air quality. This update provides crucial steps in the <br />state’s progress toward 100 percent clean carbon neutrality by midcentury. Buildings whose permit <br />applications are applied for on or after January 1, 2026, must comply with the 2025 Energy Code. <br />The City will continue to offer rebates for voluntary electrification upgrades, such as heat pump water <br />heaters, HVAC systems, and electrical panel upgrades. It will maintain streamlined permitting programs <br />like SolarAPP+ and over-the-counter EV charger permits. While the new codes mandate electrification for <br />new construction, they do not require it for retrofits for existing buildings where costs or technical limits <br />make conversion infeasible. Residents and businesses can access informational handouts at the counter <br />to educate themselves on rebates and incentives for EVs, heat pumps1, and commercial building <br />electrification, in addition to referencing the City’s website here. <br />Redwood City offers the following rebates for residential building electrification: <br />1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQaycSD5GWE <br />10.B. - Page 6 of 64 <br />246